es 


id 


SHELL Suoc & 
Q 42 8 


aCe 


r OE Ee af r 


a 
FV 


“Mees - 
55 3524 
* NS 95 
+ Wea 
MAIN 
SHELL SHOCK < 
thls Rik he ee 
A Blmy In One Act 1 
Characters 
Jack Major of Infantry, U. 8. A. 
Herbert R Ligutenant of Infantry,U.S.*. 


Robert Fayne,Medical Corps,U.S.A. 


————— - cee 


Seene - A corner in the grill of the New York club of a barge 
Eastern University. Six tables with chairs placed about them are set 
at regular intervals in two rows of three from left to right. On the 
Left, three windows looking out on a side street. In the reer, four vwin- 
dows opening on an avenue. On the right,forward,the main entrance te 
the grill. 

It is the middle of the afternoon of a hot day in eptenber, 1018. 
Through the open windows,the white curtains of which hang motionless, 
unstirred by the faintest breese,a sultry vapor of dust-clogged sun- 
light can be seen steaming over the hot ashpalt. nere, in the crill,it 
is cool. The drowsy humming of an electric fan on the left wall lulis 
to inertness. A bored,middle-aged waiter stands leaning wearily against 


855 


811 


the wall between the tables in the rear,gaping and staring listlessly 
out at the avenues. Every now and then he casts an indifferent glance at 
the only other occupant of the room,2 young wan of about thirty dreesed 
in the uniform of an officer in the Medical Corps whe is sitting et the 
middle table,front,sipping a glass of iced coffee and reading a news- 
paper. The officer is under medius height,slight and viry,vith a thin, 
pale face,licht brown hair and mustache,and grey eyes peering keenly 
through tortoise-rimmed spectacles. 

As the curtain rises there is a sound of footsters from the entrans 
The waiter half-straightens into an attitude of respectful attention.A 
moment. later Herbert Roylston enters. He is a brawny young fellow of 
twenty-seven or s80,clad in the uniform of a firct lieutenant & infan- 
try. Dlond and clean-shaven,his rather heavy,good-natured face notice- 
ably bears the marks of a recent convalescence from serious illness. 
Lines of suffering about the lips contrast with hie ever-ready, jovial 
grin; and his blue eyes of a healthy child seem shadowed by the remen- 
brance of pain,witnessed and not by them to be forgotten. 

Roylston stands & the entrance and .lances about thc grill. The 
waiter starts forward with an inquiring Jes, sir? The medical officer 
is engrossed in sowe Mt of news and dees not look up. Noylston valks 
forward to his table asd clances at the other curiously. Then the paper 
is put down and the eyes of the two wen mest. A look of perplexed re- 
cognition comes over both their faces. 


] 


Roylston -(ith a boyish grin) 1 know you. Lait a minute! (The 
other smiles) Ah! Now I’ve got it - Wayne,isn't it - Bobby Yayne? You 
used to room with Jack Arnold at college. 


Wayne - That's right; and this is - Roylsten,isn’t ys it? I ast 
you here with Jack? 


611 


Roylston - That's who. (The two men shake hands heartily,evidently 
greatly pleased at this chance meeting) 1 


/ 
Vayne - I'm very glad to see you agein. Sit down. fon’t you have 
something to drink? (he beckens to the waiter) 


Roylston - Sure thing. That’s shat I came in for - that, and to try 
and find someone to talk to, and write a couple of letters.(To the waiter 
leed coffee, please. (The waiter goes out) Ite a sure enough broiler in 
the streets. Whew! (ue mops his face with his handkerchief - then con- 
tinues apologetically) I guess ifm still a bit weak. You know I had 
- pather a clese Shave, tanz io tuo ache. 


Wayne -(Nedding; | can see Ly your face that you've been through 
the mill. hat was it - serapuel? 


Roylston -(fith a grin) touch of that in both legs; and affterverd 
machine gun her and here. (% touches the upper part of his chest) They 
nearly had me. (Showing emotion) If it hadn't been for Jack 


ne - (interestedly) bi? You don't moan Jack srneldi 

Roylston - I sure do! He eur out inte No ans land nd gh use 
Vayne -(Quiekly) “hen was this - efter Chateau Thierry? 
Reylston - Yes. 


Zayn -(..slonisned) nen you were the oue he brought back - that 
exploit -- 


hoylsten - 1 don’t know about the one. © vas g one,et ony Pate. 
(it enthusiasm) Jack's got a whole caboodle of such stunts < his 
credit. I wouldn’t dare cay that I -- 


0 


dene +(Puzaled) but I heard ther didn’t cive the name - but I 
undiersteod it was the body of a deed officer he risked his life to cet. 


_ | Reyletem - (Laughing) I guess they did think I was a come goose at 
the time; but I managed te pull through. You can’t put a squirrel in 
Abe ground (Ine waiter dose back bringing the iced coffee which he sets 
en the table. soylstem takes a sip and sighs contentedly.) 


ane -( ben the vaiter has resumed his post by the rear Windows) 
Tell me about it,will you,Foylston? The reporte heve been so speger,and 
ren co damn interested in all Jack does. You see Jack end I bew pe led 
tegether cver since we were kneo-high. 


Reylsten - Yes. e's told me. 


bayne Tut he's such a rotten correspondent that,even whm J vas 
in ran, I had to depend on the war correspondents and the off {cial 
reoperts fer any news about him. o 1t'd be u favor if you'd <- 


Reylsten -(imberrassed) There isn’t much to tell. % get caught 
in a bit ef berrage half-way to the third Desehe treneh - we'd captured 
the first tee aad should have stopped, but you get crunk with the jey 
ef chasing them back md you don’t stop to think. 


wayne - I can understand thet! 


Roylston - Fell, that was where I got mine in both legs. I went 
deen and couldn't get up. ne bays had to go back to the treneh we'd 
just captured. “ey didn’t uo tive to do any piaking up. mat have 
scomed coud anyway. I remember the ooo eounter-aticcked and caught 
hell. nen the lights went out coupletely as far as I was concened. 


ane -(Eagerly) but you've heard how Jack's company got mt out off 


— 
a 


ben 


in that second trench, haven't you? iow the Bun barrage cut 211 commmi- 
gation between them and the rest of the army? (intimslastically) Jack's 
eompauy held cut for three days and nights against all kinds & terrific 
shelling and counter attacks,without support or relief,until the rest 
ef the division advanced again and caught up with them. “early every 
member of the compeny eas either killed or wounded - but thoy stuck it 
out! ( tatkusiastinadag It was a wonderful example of dat our boys can 
do man In a pincht 


Roylston - It sure wes great stufft 7 heard bout that part of it 
efterward in hospital; but et the time it all heprened I wasn’t espec - 
fally interested in what vas going on around me. 


wayne - Then - nen was it Jack came out to cet you? 

Reyleten - Just efter the division pushed up end they vere relieved 
zayne -(stenisned) Taas taird algiat. 

Roylston - It was at nigut, I knowe 


anne -(leoking at hin with sonder ing duration “hen - you vere 


lying in o ona and throe days and alghts - badly wourmied’ 


dos n -( auarracsed) i mist aave been,l guess. I didn’t notics 
time much. I was sort of out of my head with thirst end pain, e in a 
ium trance most of the tinue. you knew hon ome gets. ( ayne nod) I°d 
see dark am light wit — © didn't think of anything t all - mot eves 
of Cath. (Ue p@uses aud tuen continues suamefacediy, -inally I came te 
in the deri. 1 lear someone serecamiug - dam norrivly! I listened and 
discovered that i sas doing ii -- screaming ai the top of «y lungs? 
uonestly,l wos ashawedto death of self. I managed to get to my feet. 
L had a d busch to get back to cur Lines. Then a Posche sachhe gun 


Gommenced to rattie,and I felt « terrific timd in the chest - and t « 
ground gane up and hit ms. The Desen artillery loosened up o7é6 2 er 
of star shells aade it light as day. I sav ea mn e surming thru’. 
thet hell straight for me. The air was fairly siszling with bulle.s bud 
he kept richt en, end then when he cane close © saw it vas Jack. showt- 
ec: Rcyisten,send hauled me up on his shoulder. The pein of it mocked a 
into a fainte den I cane to i sag ae vespiteal.( ith a shy grin of re 
lief) mts all I anew about it. 


ayne - You certainly nad a frightful time of 1, % 0 n- 


Boylston - Ko serse than ‘he rest of the boys. e all have to take 
our medécine sooner or later. Put its lucky for me Jack sar me stand uw 
that ne. 


ayno - Tou tun iw saw you. 


Nwylsten -(kusing u ary face) 1 hope so- 1d hate to think he heagd 
me balling out chere. I guess they all thougnat me dend or they'd have 
been out Looking for o before hat. (ge drinks th: rest of us coffee) 


erl. ve or to tovdle upstairs am! ritto 


Sayne - -wht » alnute, will Jou, o Is ton? “here’s something I rant 


to talk over «ith gow. “t's about Jack m perhaps you ean help mre. 


Roylston - ertainlz. As the other hesitates) onothing abat Jack, 
you say’ 


wayne Yes. But first let me plein how I nappen to be here at 
home. 1% aot on leave, and I wasn't sent back from france on account & 
111 health, as you might think. At the base hospital over there I was 
assignod to treating victims of shell-sheck. I'd made cuite a study of 
the dicease since it first beeame known and as a consequence wa more 


7 


successful then most at treating it. oe few months ago when the sick 
eomnenced to be sont home in appreciable numbers,!I was ordered back here 
to help on shock petients. 


Roylston - I sec. 


jayne -(¥ith a keen Jane at the other lowerince his voice) And, 
this is etrictiy confidential,of coupse,it appears from n letter I reeen 
tly roceived,es 1f Jack :rnold is likely to beeome one of sy patients. 


Royleton -(Amazed) Fhat! Not shell sheck? 


Dayne - Tea. 


noylsten - Good Cod! ut there must be some mistake. "hy Jack has 


the nerves of an ox! 


Nn = Did neve. Don't forgot he’s been in there three years now 
without « leteup - then you come to count the tse he wg tith the Canme 
alans before he was transfered to ours. That's a Tong stretch. 


Roylston - Put e lest I remember of iim he vas 1 


ayne - It ats you all of a succen usuelly; besides, it’s by ne 
means cer ain in Jacks cane. The letter I spoke of wes from a Do tor 
Thompson over there, one of the heads. He wrote thet Jack had been sent 
to the tace ‘ocpital with a leg sounm,nething serious in itself.iat, 
imowing I was a friend of Jack's,Thompsen wrote te tell me Jack had 
been invelided home,ond fer me to study hiu carefully when he arrived. 
His trouble secmed to be plain servous broak-cown,ihompson cald,but 
Btill re wec somethin, queer about the case tw couldn't cet old & 
eri %o hadn’t the time to devote to individuals. o ne left it up te 


The 


Royliston - Didn't he give you some hint as to just hat he meant 
was the trouble with Jack? 


Wayne - Only a postsoript evidently ecribbled in a hurry. e wrote: 
Wateh ‘rnold - cignrettest” - with the serd cigerettes deeply underlined 


Pheylston -(' caderingly) “icarettes’ 


ane - ume Pigloulous,doesn't it: »specially es Jack never 


1 
mor. 


Roylston -(Fuicklij) Ch,he did over there - a creat deal. 6 I ree 
member hit he had one stuck in his -outh ell the time. 
-ayne -(Astienisaed) What. Thy,sshen i. knew uln he wouldn't tenen , 
a 
one on a bst. (ine two men lock at each other for a mowent deeply puszile 


Tnere's sowething queer avout it,evideutly - from that postscript. 


Roylston -( fter « roment) Ch,2 guess 11“ Just thet your Thompsca 
is one of those onti-cizarotte flends. 

Payne -(:rowning) uite the comtrery.ie smokes incessantly imself. 

cians. 

Deere ust be sometilug in 1t.luompuon is one of our keenest diagnest’i 

“\eylston -(confidently) o miter how sharp le is 11 bet he’s all 
wrong ebout Jeck. - hell - Jack's made of iron. I've scen him in 8 
the wenches id i know. is he'd een shot or gassed or - but shell 
shock - Bosh} Jack“ d laugh at hat. (uagerly) ut when do you expect 
hin to got here? 


ane ny day now. 


hoylotem - Cead,I sure hope he arrives before 7 leave. I vant to ® 
dec him above 1 other people in the rorld - to thank hin, 1f I oan, fr 


9 


my presence in our midst. (Impulsively) If you only knew how I feel about 
Jackl (Inconsequentially) You rememver his senior year at college when 
be was (ll-/ceriean helf - and his touchiown that wen the ‘arvard game? 
(mayne nods) I sas just a freshoan then and you cen icacgine what a here 
he ers to wo. ( ayne smiles) And thon to go over there and Sind myself 
Cirectly uncer his command to becom Ais friendt t meant © devil of 


@ lot, 7 der 1 yout 
Weyne - It ust have. 


“eylsten - Ard thento cap the climax he rave’ my life vhen not ome 
men ine million would have tried it and ne blame to then,cither!? It 
wes rank suicide. the chances were a thousand to one against his ceming 
out of it alive.(vith e grin; ben | cet started on thet subject I never 
stop,so I cuess I better beat it to my letter writing. Be sure and let 


me kmos chen Jack arrives, sure want to see iim 
Teayne (es they Loth stand ami chake herds) 111 be sure tee 
noylston - .neankse ,s long ier the present. 


ayne g Inge- (le site een again. cls ten goes out. ayne drums 
on the table with his iingers and steres before Au, deep in Ms thoughts 
After d ~oment steps cre heerd from the entrance,ri_ht,and Jack Armeld 
comes into the grill. fie i a tall, brond-shoulderec,and sinewy-bullt 
mon of about thirty with black hair and sustache. The sun tan m his 
otren, -feiturec,imnmioome fuce bec ben faded to a sickly yellow by Life 
hess. mee of norvou: tension cre ccop about his .outh sud nose,and 
his clecks ere ole, he skin Grew taut over the check bones.Mis 
derk c s heave a streined capression of uncertein expectancy as if he 
were constantly holding himself in cheek while he waited for a mine te 


eaploce. is hands tremble a little. He has a queer manucrisn of 


Gontimuslly ralsing the fore snd siddle fingers of hic richt hand to 
his Lips as though he wore king an invisible cigarette. He weers the 
wnifora of a aajor of infantry.) 


rnold -(Imrediately recognises ane and calle out casuelly)ielle, 
Bobby. (He etrides toward the teble.) 


rayne -(Jumps to his feet, nearly upsetting the table) Jack? (His 
face losing with ‘pleasure as he pumps his friend’s hend up ead down) 
By all that’s wonderful! ben did eu cet in’ 


arnold - ‘this sorning. 


tayne -(Pushing Aa inte « chair) Sit deen, vou old scoundrel? 1 
been expecting to hear of your arrival every dey.(°lepring him on the 
back nifectionately) It’s certainly a sight for sere cos to see you 
alive ond :ieking age in? 


rnold Les, Ia“ glad te be back for e bit. | sas rather dene up 


in a nervous way. 
ayne - o octor “hompson wrote we. 
Arnold -(Betraying umeasiness) ch, he wrote you, did he? 
Veyne - Yew; seid you were coving back. 


wneld -(Irritably) He's e fossilized old eoman,your Thompson - 
fusses like d wot hen about imaginary e tons. 


Rayne - Yet he’s one of the best in his line. 


~ Apnold -(Dryly) terhaps; but you'll not convince e of it. (He 
makes the peculiar sotion of fingers to his lips) e got on my nerves 


11 


frightfully with is incessant oxaminatious - pure rot, 17 you vant ay 
opinion. 


®ayne -(Sith a keen professional clance at his friend’s face - from 
this tize he studies Arnold as u patient) ut, honestly,you do look as if 
you'c been knocked out for a tine. 


Arnoid -(/nnoyed) Ne;fit as a fiddle.(Vasuely) it's only the sllenes. 
(he again makes the tion to rls lips) 


ayne -(Mystified) silence’ 


Arnold („ot appearing to notice u «uestion - sith sudden e.. 
ness) save you a cligaretie,obiy. 


ane -(Takes out hie ease and offers it to Arnold) You're smoking 
now? : 

Arnold Naturally.(ile lights the cloerette ond, dr ing in à deep 
inhole,ezhales it with a sigh of relief.) 


*ayne - ow, naturelly! You didn’t use to, 3 icaow ry e puff. 


Arnold jad to wer there. ("ith oudden remenbrance) 7 wens Bre 


getting - 11°s such a d arm len, while since 7 ve scen you, obby. 
‘eyne ~ Taree years. 


Arnold -(Vaguely) 4 let of things can happen in that tine, what? 
("ith a deteched air, as if he were unconscious of what he is doing. d 
puts out the cigarotte from which he has hardly taken sore than a feu 
puffs,an: carefully puts the butt Into a pecket of his unt orn.) 


layne -(»etcehing him curiously) nat ---: (‘ie suddenly thinks u.. 
better of his question and stops.) 


9 


Arnold -(Sharply) fh? 


fayne - Oh,nothing.(As Jack stares at him) “You's the wound in your 
leg? 


rnold - All O. k. Only a scratch. (he again puts his fingers to his 
lips norvously - then his eyes fall on the cigaretts ease on the table) 
111 craft another of your fags, obby,if I may. 


wayne - Help your elf. 


rnold (iht ing up) twent straight to your house ron the dock. 
w your mother. che told e fd proiunbly find yeu ere. ("ith e displag 
ef affoction) It's good te see you again, obby, darm food? “ike a tente, 
by Jove’ I feel bucked up already. 


wayne «(bith a sulle) I's glad of Unt, Jack. 
rnold -(Reniniscently) “hat times we used to ‘ave tvogetber, ob? 
Tayne = Sully’ 


“rnold - .hose weeleends in the glty when you same on from alt- 
were - when you were a grinding modicel stude and 1 ens a- (“cornfully) 


ser iber! 
vayhne - Have you wanaged to get any writing dene over there? 


Awnolé -G ith a frown) io. hat's the use! It’s not a thing one 
ean trite about,is it?(There is a pause. Arnold mechanically puts at 
his cigarette ond is Just placing 1t in his pocket when he looks up and 
eatches his friend's eye probing into hie strange action. ‘le imediately 
becomes conscious of want he is doing and shame-freedly is ris cle 
caretto on the floor end stamps on it.) dam it ell$(Irritably) Fret 


ape you staring at,Bobby? 


Ge, 


13 


Wayne (Flushing) Nothing - er -- 


Arnold You aust think we a timndering ass when you catch me in a 
childish act like that - just like a kid on the streets “sniping butte". 
I can't con to break myself of the devilish habit - must have contrest- 
od it in the front line trenches - saving up butts for an omergency 
when : d be without a smeke. And now I do mechanically - (hesitates - 
then moodily in ea low voice) whenever the silence comes over me. 


wayne «(Seeing his friend's embarrassment - soothingly) It's nat- 
ural enough. 


Arnold -(As if he were talking to himself) There’s something back 
of it I can't get at - something that drives me to do 1t. (ne shakes his 
head as if banishing some painful thought,anc producing an unopened bez 
of cigarettes from each of his pockets,turns to Yay ne with a forced 
laugh) Here I've cot a full box ineach pocket and yet I°11 bet I°we been 
grafting yours as though there wasn't one for sale in the whole world. 
It's a disgusting obsession. I've cot to break u, self of it or poeple 
will think I’ve a serew loose somewhere. It’s up to you, obby, to call 
me down every time you catch ae. That'll do the trick.(Forgetful of the 
full bvexes on the table he calls to the waiter roughly) le, sal tert 


The Waiter -(.tarting out of his doze) Tes, sir? 

Arnold - A box o igaretteos. 

The Waiter - hatkind would you like,sir? 

Apnold -(Vaguely) Any kind. 

\eyne - But you've all those unopened on the table, Jack. 


Arnold (Flushing ~ avkwardly) Yes - so I have - I was forgetting. 


0¹⁰ 


14 


(To the waiter) Never mind about them nos. (There is a pause during which 
Arnold presses his hands to his forehead as if „ vere trying to focus 

his thoughts. Finally he mutters in e low voice) It's the silence. That 
does it. 


wayne ( taring st him keenly) That's the third time you've sen- 
tioned the silence, Jack. bat do you mean,exzactly’? What silence? 


Arnold -(\fter a pause) Just that - the silence. It hits you shen 
you're sent back home after you've been in the lines for a long tim - 
say a year or more without a holiday. (He laughs mockingly) 4 holiday? 

A pest period! Rest! Geod God? (ne turns to Wayne excitedly) Understand 
that I'm only speaking from my own experience and ny feclings my have 
no general significance. Put I believe they have. I*ve seen then veri- 
fied in the faces of those men who come back to the trenches after a 
leave at home their expression of genuine happiness at Leing back - 
ye nan, they look reli ved,freed from slavery! (He pauses for a moment, 
reflecting - then continues intensely) You've been hearing the rumble 
end crash of the big gs guns, the rat-a-pet rivetting of the machine-guns 
the crack of rifles,the whine of bullets,the roar of bursting shells. 
Lverything whirls in a constant foverish movement around you; the earth 
trembles and cuakes beneath your feet;even the darkness is only an inter 
mittent phenomena suatching greedily at the earth between the wane of 
one star shell and thebursting brilliance of the next; even the nignt is 
goaded into insomnia by the everlasting firewerks. Nothing is fixed oF 
certain. The next moment of your life never attains to the stability 

of even a probable occurence. It hits you with the specd of a bullet, 
passes through you,is gone. (He pauses) And then you come out into the 
old peaceful world you once kee - for a rest - and it seems as if you 
burried in the tomb of a pyramid erected bel oro tie sare dere born. 
A 


TOY 


Time has died of old age; ani the silence,like the old Chinese vater 
torture,dréps leadenly drop by drop - om your brein.- and thm you think 
- you have to think about the things you ought to forget - 


Jayne (In a brisk voice - trying to rouse his friend) You'll gst 
used to the quiet after a bit. You're letting your im cinstion run away 
with vou. (Arnold leeks at him with e eurious,hacrard emile) De you knew 

- it's a curious colneide oe I just talking about you with a 
frie:d of yours before you came in. “peak of the cevil,you know. Guess 


who it wes? 
Arnold -(Indifterently) I don't knew. bo? 
vayne - Noylston. It’s funnmy you didn’t run into hin. 


Arnold -(Showing no interest - as if he hadn't heard tie name) I 
saw someone in uniform going up tie stairs - didn't get a look at his 
face. “ho did you say it was: 


layne (Ling emphasis on the nrme) “eylston - Herb oylsten -ths 
man you drag god out of “No ann Land after Chateau “hierry when you von 
your load of medals,you chump! 

Arnold -( tunned) You don’t mean - lierb. 


tine - nat“ s caaotly who [ do moan. 


Apneld (rale and exeited) Here - in this club - Herb? Put thet 's 
impossible. herb was de ad, I teil you. 


Tayne - You may think se; but you'll be doubly glad to hear he’s 
very much slive,and he rents to see you and thank you for --- 


Arnold «(Covering his face rith his hands) on Sed? 


5 


16 
Wayne -(Alarmed) Jack? nat“ e the crouble? 


Arnold (controlling himself with an effort) Nothing - only it 
brings it all back. (His fingers flutter to his mouth. He surrurs hoarse 
ly) Cot a cigarette,Bobhy? 


Vayne - Taere - on the table. 


jeneld - Thanks. (he does not touch his own boxes but picks e ci- 
garette from his friend“ es case and lights it. e tekes a deep inhale 
end commences to talk volubly in a forced tone as if he were trying to 
cover up his apparent indifference 1. the matter of Roylston) I°m dam 
glad to hear about lierb. o he’s olive - roally alive! It seems inered- 
idle. Ue was swimuing in his own blood. I carried sim over my shoulder. 
I was socked with 4% - dh ( shudders at the recollection but telks 
repidly again, trying to drown his orie) 1°11 be derm cled te see 
him gain damn gled. Herb’s a corking chap - one of the est. He and 
I were great chums over there.(He uta his cigarette out end sticks it 
hestily in his pocket. wayne sees this and seems about to speak but 
thinks better of it. rnold goes on in an agitated tone) Yec,Herb’s one 
fine chap. That was an aiful mess - the sorst ever - that Chateau 
Thierry affair. 1°11 have to tell you about it. fe ran out of cigarettes 
you know - not a darm one in the vhele company - not a emoke of any 
deseription. It wos hell. Speaking of smokes - you've another fag, 
haven't you,5o0bby? 


Dayne -( uletly) on the tablo,Jaek. 


Arnold - hans. (he again takes one frem Wayne's case and puffs 
ner ously) "You can't realize what ea smoke comes to mean to you in a 
first line trench. You'd have to have been there,Pobby. You vondered a 
my smoking now when I never had in the old days. J didn’t at first - 


eal 


| 


* 


17 


then I nod to + had to, tell you! You know - the stench and the lies 
and the rest of it. A smoke takes your wind off then,s0mehor. 


Zayne -(coothingly) I knew it’s a good thing. 


h 
Arnold -(Compleiningly) And thet time in that Chateau merry trens 


barrage 
‘ there wos nothing. The Bosche summmi cut us off completely fron the rest 


er Ahe army. - not 4 stoke in the hole companyt io chance of ceotting 
one! We only had emergency field rations end when they cave out some of 
the boys - toward the end - these who were still unwounded - were wild 
with Iumeer and thirst. I ean remember Filly “terett - © corporal - 

he went west with a bullet through his heart later on, poor fellow - 
Singing some idiotic nensense about beef steak pie over and over again 
- till it drove you nearly mad to listen te hin. e must heve been clean 
out of nis head. but I didn't feel immger or thirst at all. 12 I wanted 


was a dne - and not a one!” (Ne puffs furiously at his cigarette) 


ne - I've read avout your famous three days, Jack. It was a glo- 
ileus thing but | can well iumgine how terrible it was alse. 


Arnold (hacitedly) Terrible? No word for itl “an alive,you 
couldn't know’ we'd ouch down in the mud with the trench rate squeak- 
ing and scampering with fright over our feet - nipping at your legs - 
while wo waited for the nett c unter attack, vonder ing if the Posche 
would get through the next time,critting our teeth to stick it out. 
Their artillery played hell with us. The world seemed flying to bite. 
ine concussions of the bursting sholls - all about us - would jarr your 
heart right back against your spine. It rainec shell splinters. “en 
kept falling,writhing end groaning in the muck - one's friends! - and 
nothing to do. 4 little Italian private - Tony - he used to sing fer 
us in camp don't know his second name d used to be a bootblack here 
x 


— 


ray 


et home - was standing ner mo. A shell fragment came down on his skull 
- his brains spettered all over - (‘lmddering) - over my face. And all 
that tine not a cigarette - not a damned smoke of any kind - to take 
your mind off - all that! 


t 
wayne -(Norried by Arnold’s rapidly increasing excitement) You ough 
to try end forget those unavoidable horrors,Jack. ar has to be what & 
it is - until we make an end to itfcrever. 


Arnold -(Faving this remar: aside) You've cot to knew about it,a%2 
you others - then you'll send us the things we need,smokes and the rest. 
(He throws hie ocligarette away and lights another) ‘nd ot nights it was 
frichtful,expecting ® surprise attack every inute - watching - stra- 
ing your eyos? o had to rile the coad up against the rear wall of the 
trench; end when ,ou'd stumble in the dark you'd put your hand out and 
touch a- a face, or a leg - or - something sticky with blood. “ot a 
wink of slepptfou couldn't! ven when the guns let up for u soment there 
were the sereams of the wounded out in No ans and. They’d keep the 
dead a ake - lying owt thore dying by bits. nd you couldn't co out te 
get them in that fire. It was suicide. I told the men that. They wanted 
te go out and cet their friends, and couldn't give per: ission. "e 
needed every man. It tas suicide. I told them so. They wept and cursed. 
Tt was my duty. They would have been killed - useless}y. 


ane - fut you went out yourself - for Roylston. 


Arnold - (Vagucly - shaking his head) No; Royston was dead. I sae 
him fall flat on his face. ben after that for three days 7 didn’t see 
or heer him - so he must hewe been dead. (he hurries on volybly ac if 
this thought of Koylsten disturbed him) I thought I'd go mad. 0 place 
for the wounded to be geared for - croans end shrieks on all sides? l 


1 
9 , 


19 


not a thing to smoke’? you had to think - think about it! And the stench 
of the bodies retting in the sun betwoen the Bosche trench and ours! God 
And not a single cigarette,do you understand’? Not one! You'd feol sick 
elear down to the soles of your fect. You finally cere to believe you 
were putrefying yourself - elive? - and the living men around you - they 
too - rotten! 


ene -(Revolted) or heavens sake,Jeck,cut it out! 


Apnold = - cigarette sould have deen heaven - to f111 your lungs 
with clean smoke - to cleanse the steneh out of your nostrils’ Put neg 
not the tinfest butt! Not a cam thing? Its unbelievable! (“rowing more 
and more excited) nd when the relief came - our boys - and I was weep= 
ing with the joy of it and f prayed to them - yes,actually prayed - 
Give me a cigaretie,for God's sake’ ot a one, obby, do you hear? Net 
@ blossed one of them had any. “here’d been a deley,a olstake, something. 
Sone had come up with the supplies. I was sild. I cursed them. I sudden- 
ly rememberdd Royleton. he'd given me one just before ze charged. He 
hed a whole case full I remembered,znd I knew the spot where he went 
down - the exact spot. fter that - I forget. It's all a binnk. 1 must 
have gone over the top and brought uin tack. (Nis voice sinks to ea dull 
whisper) die notices ths hnalf-srmoked cigerette in his hand ond throws B&B 
avray ih: costure of loathing) 


ane ~(Cazing at hin with horrified eyes) ‘ben thet wes why - you 
saved joyliston - for a cigarette - Ged’ (As Arnold aides his face in 1 
hands with a haflesob ayne hastens to add cempassionately) No,it could 
have on that. Your mind is sick,old pal, do you know it? Very sick. 
Come with m@,Jacke Let's get out of here. (he gets to his feet putting 


his hand on his friend's shoulder) 


Arnold -(Getting to nis fect - in agonized tenes) hat have I been 


291 


20 


saying? I’ve never talked about it before - but that’s the thoucht that’ 
been cating into my brain,Bobvy - what you just said. nat“ e why I*mn 
going mad ~ thinking about it - day and night! (With frenzied protest) 
It couldn't heve been that! I must have gone out for him - for nerd 

I mst have suddenly realised that he was out there - still alive - 
suffering!(Breaking cown) But how could I have known that? I thought 
he was dead. How! I can’t remember. 


ayne -(Cuiekly) Yeu saw han when he stood up., of course - when he 
tried to get back to our iines. 


Apnold -(Hopelessly - with a groan) Ne - no - I sar noone - nothh g 


ane -(vorcibly) Then you heard him sereaning out there - scream 
ing with pain io his deliriumeThink! 


rnold -({ils eyes widening) Sereaming? Yes - there wes screaming - 
driving you mad - (His fece contracts convulsively. ‘Ie boats his head 
with his hands,hie eyes shut in 1s effort to vismalice the ccene) Tes 
- and thon - Gods - one voice - when all the others wore wllent for a 
second - like this Cie throws his head back and screens as f in horrie 
bie pain) 


ano -s the waiter shrinks Deck against a window terrfied) Jack? 
top? 


arnold (In a frenzy of joy) I remember it all now. It was his 
voice - “erb’s - scron ing jqust at the moment wo were relieved’ Then 
I knew he was out there alive. 1 couldn't bear it! “hat’s why I went 
over - to save hin- Herb! - not the dammed cigarettes? (Me face lichts 
up and he crabs “ayne's hand ane pwaps it up and down) That's why 1 
been sick - queer - was- off ay aut, oy? They*ve all been tolling 


OY 


whet © here I was - end I thought 1˙ dene it ell for - I couldn't rene 
ber why 1 gone for him - except the cigarettes - and they gave me me- 
Gals for bravery - and all the time I’ve been going med - slowly — insi 
= thinking I was a darned our! but now I on, by. J remember every 
bit that happened. 1 heard him seream and 1 ¢id go over to save Herb, 
obe Thank Ged’ (He sinks down u into a chair,week but radiant) 


Tayne «(Galmly) Wuy sure you did. It’s only a touch on shoek get 
the other tool notion late your head. (Aua grin) And now I can dien. 
your cases You're cured alveady. I'a some doctor „chf (H 10 he is ep 
fag Reoylseten appears in tac doorway. “hen ho sees Jack he gives a shout 
ef delight and rusues over throwing his arms around .rneld in a bear im 


Roylston (ning hin affectionately) Nelle,Jack? (ic holds hin at 
arms length - with embarrassment) Are you are ct last Ive wanted t. 
“gee you to try and tell - te try and thank darm 11? (hex funbles in 

his pocket and pulls out his cigurette case which ho of fut te Jack) It: 
hard to speak about such things - but rou know - ‘ave < cipnrette. 


rnold - Nev on your life’ ‘ever another! 4 pipo or mine for the 
rest of ; life. (se besen wildly to the waiter) Jey,veiter? Oring en 
& gallon of wines Camouflage it in a téapot,if you nave to, and pour it 
through a streiver. eres where we celeb: ! (The astonished vaiter 
stands gaping at uin ia petrified sonder as Jack grabs herb“ a hand and 


Shake: it up on down, How are you,ilerb,you old som of a cum? 


The Curtein 2118. 


kugene . 96111 


& 


989 


ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS 

1-month loans may be renewed by calling 642-3405 

88 loans may be recharged by bringing books to Circulation 
Des 


Renewals and recharges may be made 4 days prior to due date 


DUE AS STAMPED BELOW 
DEC 26 1978 


com WAR es “ONTO 


4 fete} 


jyeye e ioe 5 1999 

51 C | Go SENT ON ILL 

Gils [bu 05 om 
| RECEIVES eser 


MAY 8 1986 


wee 5 . 
a 25 1999 _| 


UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY 5 
FORM NO. DD6, 40m, 3/78 BERKELEY, CA 94720 


GENERAL LIBRARY - U.C. BERKELEY 


iu p nun 


